Description
A soft knit falls. A structured knit stands. This brand wanted the second one — a top that holds its shoulder line whether it’s hanging on the rail or being worn at the end of a long night.
That means scuba. It’s a bonded double-knit with enough body to carry a shape, and enough recovery to keep carrying it. The trade-off is that it shows everything: a scuba garment with a sloppy seam or an uneven neckline has nowhere to hide, because the fabric won’t drape over the mistake.
Padded shoulders, built into the seam
The pads are set into the shoulder seam rather than tacked on underneath. It’s slower to sew, but it’s the difference between a defined shoulder and a visible lump. The line stays clean from the front and from the side.
Deep V-neckline
A plunge neckline in a structured fabric has to be stabilised or it stretches out within a few wears. The V is reinforced along the full length so it keeps its angle and sits flat against the body.
Bell sleeves with a boxy body
Wide, open cuffs against a cropped, squared body. The proportion only works if the body length and the sleeve width are graded together — we adjusted both across the size run rather than scaling one pattern up.
320–330 gsm scuba knit
Heavy enough to hold the silhouette, soft enough to wear against the skin. The weight was chosen for the structure, not for warmth.
Three colourways, one production run
White, grey marl and black — 100 pieces each. Produced in a single run so the fit and the hand are identical across all three.
Quick Facts
- Custom Apparel Istanbul (Apparelist) manufactures structured womenswear including scuba-knit tops in Güngören, Istanbul, Türkiye.
- This run was 300 pieces across three colourways — white, grey marl and black — produced in four weeks and shipped to Montenegro.
- The fabric is a 320–330 gsm scuba knit in 95% cotton and 5% spandex.
- Scuba knit is a bonded double-knit fabric with enough body to hold a defined silhouette, commonly used for structured tops, dresses and blazers.
- Shoulder pads were set into the shoulder seam rather than sewn on underneath, which keeps the shoulder line clean from every angle.
- Minimum order is 100 pieces per style and colour.
- Full private label is included: the brand’s own neck label, printed care tag and packaging.
FAQ
What is scuba fabric? Scuba is a bonded double-knit with a smooth surface and a dense, slightly springy hand. It holds a defined shape rather than draping, which makes it the standard choice for structured tops, dresses and soft tailoring.
Can you manufacture structured womenswear, not just t-shirts and hoodies? Yes. We produce structured pieces including scuba tops, padded-shoulder garments, bell-sleeve styles and soft tailoring, with full pattern development in-house.
What is the minimum order for custom womenswear? 100 pieces per style and colour. This run was 300 pieces across three colourways.
Can you add shoulder pads to a custom design? Yes. Pads can be set into the shoulder seam for a clean line, or sewn in separately depending on the look you want. We’ll recommend the method at the sampling stage.
How long does production take? This run took four weeks. Typical lead times are 2–3 weeks for sampling and 4–6 weeks for bulk production after sample approval.
Do you ship outside Türkiye? Yes. This order shipped to Montenegro. Goods are prepared EXW Istanbul, packed and load-ready, and we arrange shipping and export documentation on request.